Rooming house slaying suspect cites self-defense

Monday

Jan 13, 2014 at 2:58 PMJan 13, 2014 at 7:42 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — A 53-year-old security guard at the Albion rooming house accused of fatally shooting the building's custodian in the back Friday night called police after the shooting, but not before someone hid the alleged murder weapon, authorities said.

Howard F. Penn, 53, of 765 Main St., was arraigned on a murder charge Monday in Central District Court for the slaying Friday of Lloyd Worster, 52. He was held without bail and will return to court Feb. 13. A not-guilty plea was entered in the case.

Assistant District Attorney Brett Dillon said Mr. Penn shot Mr. Worster in the back after an altercation in the building. Mr. Worster was shot once as he was walking away, Mr. Dillon said.

After the shooting, Mr. Penn allegedly made a phone call to Fabiano Sanabria, a 33-year-old man who also lives at the Main Street rooming house. Mr. Sanabria allegedly met up with Mr. Penn and took the gun from the shooting scene.

Investigators later found the gun in a room in the building, court records said.

Police were called to the Albion rooming house at 765 Main St. about 5:45 p.m. after Mr. Penn called police and said there was a fight and he had shot someone.

Mr. Penn's lawyer, John J. Roemer, said in court that his client told police the shooting was in self-defense. Mr. Penn and Mr. Worster were located in a first-floor security room, where police said the shooting took place. Mr. Worster was pronounced dead at St. Vincent Hospital.

Investigators took Mr. Penn to police headquarters, where he was questioned by detectives.

"Penn admitted to shooting Worster after an altercation in the security office," court records said. "Penn stated he bought the 9mm handgun that he shot Worster with, from a crack dealer."

Security personnel for the rooming house are not armed. The shooting was clearly captured on video surveillance, according to court records. There used to be a paid police detail at the building, but that has not been the case for more than a year, police officials said.

Mr. Sanabria was arraigned on a charge of being an accessory after the fact (murder) and several firearms charges, including a firearms charge with three prior violent or drug crimes. He was held without bail by Judge Steven E. Thomas pending a dangerousness hearing Jan. 21.

Mr. Dillon said Mr. Sanabria has a long criminal history. Not-guilty pleas were entered in his case.